We will periodically publish our bulletin, Flight Following, on our website and also send it directly via email in order to make sending and receiving it as convenient as possible for everyone.
This journal is intended for volunteer pilots, group leaders, other volunteers, professional staff, and all those interested in the incredible world of public benefit flying! Feel free to pass it along to others. We hope it provides useful information making it easier for those who use aviation in public service do a better and more enjoyable job of flying to help others!
We will also post news and event information from the world of charitable aviation on our blog.
A Guide for Using Your CMF Call Sign
You’ve received your new CMF call sign and are ready to fly your first volunteer flight using it. Great! The COMPASSION call sign has many benefits. It alerts ATC that you are on an important charitable mission and provides a measure of safety and comfort for your passengers. Controllers may be more likely to clear […]
In the Shadow of 9/11: Volunteer Pilots Take Action
“…on a day that aviation was used as a weapon, it was also used as a means of rescue, relief and recovery by selfless aviators who picked themselves up and dove into constructive action in spite of the confusion.” Read the story of how volunteer pilots and organizations became a lifeline after 9/11. In the […]
Volunteer Pilots Wanted for Research Study
Volunteer Pilots are exceptional people–there’s no doubt about that. But what motivates them? How do their experiences shape their volunteerism and sustain their interest? PhD candidate Melanie Porter wants to find out. Her research seeks to investigate and discover the motivation factors that prompt an individual to participate in continued volunteer engagements. The study aims […]
Fuel Reimbursement Exemptions Explained
Those involved with volunteer flying have likely felt the frustration of limited pilot resources. We all want to be able to complete more flights, but let’s face it, flying is expensive! There’s a limit to the amount any pilot can give. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could defray a pilot’s cost of flying charitable […]
Volunteer Pilot Flight or Illegal Part 135: Where is the Line?
Written by Rick Durden, Vice President, Air Care Alliance Originally published by Air Care Alliance, March 2017 Updated and republished in June, 2020 Introduction: The FAA has been cracking down on illegal part 135 operations, increasing both investigations and enforcement actions against pilots and operators. On May 22, the FAA sent an informational letter to […]
Air Care Alliance Elects New Directors
Air Care Alliance is pleased to announce the election of three new Members to its Board of Directors: Mark Hanson, Jim Stratton and Katharine Zimmerman. “Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of leaders committed to fostering and enhancing charitable aviation,” said Jim Hesseman, President of Air Care Alliance. “We are excited […]
COVID-19 Disrupts Public Benefit Flying, but We Are Resilient
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed life as we know it. Amid an aviation industry nosedive, sweeping stay-at-home orders, and widespread panic, the Public Benefit Flying industry–like so many others–is left to wonder what the future holds. Each year, more than 25,000 flights are made by volunteer pilots across the country in support of humanitarian […]
SFAR Grants Relief for Expired Medical Certificates and Recency Requirements
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA has issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) the extends the duration of medical certificates to all pilots. It also provides relief from recent flight experience requirements, but only to certain pilots and operations. The FAA emphasizes that apart from the limited relief provided by the SFAR, […]
Nominations for Public Benefit Flying Awards are Open!
Do you know someone doing great things for Public Benefit Flying? Whether a volunteer pilot, a non-flying volunteer, or an individual or organization providing extraordinary support, you can help give them the recognition they deserve. Nominate someone deserving today! About the Awards The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) created the […]
COVID-19 Considerations for Volunteer Pilot Operations
As volunteer pilot organizations around the country grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the safety and well-being of passengers and pilots has remained top focus in a rapidly changing landscape. Many Volunteer Pilot Organizations have temporarily suspended passenger-carrying operations and others are considering that decision on a day-to-day basis in light of current government restrictions, new […]